It had been a success, a small success no doubt but still, small beginnings can lead to big ends. And it was a timely boost given the current situation. But even now a new course of attack would already need to be decided upon and the details conveyed throughout their people. Dagda glanced about him, the elder generation believed they could slip away in the immediate aftermath without anyone noticing their absence. They were wrong. He wanted nothing more to burst in on them and insist on playing a part in whatever they were plotting. And he would have too, were it not for the circumstances. But now was not the time, if his father and the others did not deem him ready to be privy to all their inner discussions then so be it. He would lead by his actions and prove himself in their eyes in the coming battles.
They looked upon Dagda and the other youths as rash and inexperienced, overpowered by emotions and anger than the calm, collected minds of their elders. But if they were to win out the day against such overwhelming odds then they must look at and truly consider actions that might otherwise seem rash or careless. Ardgal had said himself that surprise would be their deadliest weapon and Dagda knew he could provide that. But for now it was a time to bide and wait. Spying Tadhg and Cormac Dagda made his way across to where they sat in the shelter of the curtain walls.
Dagda bundled his way in between Tadhg and Cormac and smiled as they passed him the bottle of usice beatha. Dagda took a generous gulp. It went down easily, too easily. They’d have to be wary to not go overboard tonight, always a challenge once they’d had a taste, especially when all together.
“Aishling and Siobhan?” Dagda enquired.
Tadhg jerked his head towards the crowds gathered at the courtyard, “They are both somewhere amongst the others, I said we’d catch them later.”
Cormac stopped cleaning his blade to look up at him, “So what the Elders saying Dagda? I see they aren’t staying around.”
Dagda shrugged, “I wish I knew. But it isn’t just talking now is it, we're in the midst of it now and for them that means they need to point and lead the way. Understandable enough, we’ve never been in war, we’ve heard the stories sure, we’ve done all the training yes, but that is not anything to what they have seen and done.”
He looked out into the night sky, “I’m not worried though, they’ll need us, and sooner rather than later. We’ve just got to prove ourselves.”
Tadhg called for the whiskey once more. “Honestly, I can’t wait to get right in the faces of them men. Tonight was all well and good but I want to see the look on them when I crush their head in, I want to see the recognition on their faces when they realise their mistake ever coming here, ever facing us in our home.”
Cormac puffed his cheeks, “You’ll have plenty of faces to look into, don’t know about having time for recognition, there’s quite a few of em in case you hadn’t noticed.”
“Blaahh….not enough. The Milesians are here to see us broken, one way or another and the Partholóns, even during our alliance time, I always felt that they looked on us with a disdain, a contempt. It always pissed me off.”
Dagda skillfully popped the bottle out from Tadgh’s hand and laid it down.
“Some of them looked on us with disdain and contempt, just like some of us look on them the exact same, us included let’s not pretend. Before the Milesians entered the fray we had over 200 years of peace, let’s not forget that. We can work together. With the right men and women that is.”
“Really Dagda? Then why then is an army of 7000 Partholóns marching alongside the Milesians en route to destroy our home and everything we stand for? They betrayed us and our trust, how the hell could we ever trust them now?”
“By killing all those who would betray us, them, their wives, their children and everything they hold dear, do not think me a fool, the Partholóns must and will pay dearly for their betrayal, but we cannot continue to be so vulnerable, so lacking in numbers, it leaves us too open to attacks such as this.”
Cormac shifted in his seat, “Surprisingly Dagga I agree with Tadhg on this.”
He was interrupted eagerly by a hearty clap on the back by Tadhg. Cormac swallowed whatever retort he had in mind for him and continued staring intensely at Dagda.
“Do you really believe that somehow in the future there will be a Druaidíi men alliance once more? If the Milesians were somehow wiped out of the equation I mean?”
“If, and right now that is an admittedly big if, but if the Milesians were removed from the equation then yes. Yes I do believe we could come to some understanding once more.”
Seeing the bemused looks exchanged between his closest friends he expanded, “I believe we have friends yet. Do we have another alternative? Look back on the accounts of the Great Wars. Both sides enjoyed victories and both sides tasted defeats. Yet on the whole we were the ones who had the better of it. Even still there is no doubt that by the time the Great Truce came around both sides were eagerly seeking a respite and a peace to allow them to grow and live without fear and pain once more. But let’s just say the War had gone on, that it kept grinding on to a bitter end, What would have happened? Both sides would have been left hopeless, desperate and without any sort of happiness or prosperity for their people.”
Tadhg grabbed back the whiskey, Cormac waited until he had his fill before motioning to him, his face scrunched up in concentration at Dagda’s words.
“On the brink of collapse and destruction,” Dagda continued oblivious, “both sides would have no choice but to ignore the other and build anew lest they ruin themselves in trying to bring down the other. And here is the most crucial element of ours and man’s coexistence. The nature of our people means we populate slowly, too slowly for our limited population. For every one Druaidíi born there is likely 10 men born. I’ve heard and seen mothers of 5 children and more, a common occurrence for the Men, and us, we can only breed one child, bar some rare anomaly where there are two. How do we compensate for that when our people are already so few?”
He shook his head dejectedly, “That is something that has puzzled and caused me many sleepless nights.”
Cormac regarded him closely, “And the answer?”
Dagda scratched his chest. “I don’t think we can, no matter how skilful, how powerful our warriors, no matter how ingenious our strategies in war...in the end their numbers will win and impose themselves on us.”
Dagda paused, perhaps I should not be so forthright. He hadn’t intended to air his thoughts out so frankly but if their current situation did not cause them all to question themselves then nothing would.
He lowered his voice, “It’s been forgotten by many but before the Great Truce was signed and agreed upon there was the Battle of Terenurah where we completely outflanked the Men as they passed through Antire forest. It is no coincidence that it was then that the idea of a Truce was muted. I have no doubt in my mind that Terenurah was still fresh in the minds of King Maert and his people when they came to the negotiation table. Our ancestors choose a time most suited and advantageous to them before the met with the men.”
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Tadhg passed the bottle to him, “Here you sound like you need a drink more than me.”
Cormac however began shaking his head slowly, “So what, we have to do likewise and pick a time which suits us best? Could be waiting a long time on that one Dagga. Even if we do come out of this we ain’t going to be in any position to make strong claims or demands at the negotiation table. Provided there even is one.”
Dagda nodded. “You’re right, we won’t be, which is why even after all that has happened with the men and their betrayal I believe we’d still have to go into an alliance once more, even one which some would deplore. Then we keep to ourselves, keep to our people and rebuild and grow once more. Any we do interact with we carefully screen and dictate which can be trusted, or used. It will take time, lots of it before we are in any sort of healthy position again, but it will happen. And then, then we will be the ones to dictate in Aileann and beyond, as our forefathers once did, the Druaidíi once held power wherever they went, why shouldn’t we aim to return to such a standing once more.”
Tadhg grunted, “Bloody hell Dagda you don’t half overthink things eh? Your talking years and years from now. My gods it must be horrible up in that head of yours.”
“It’s not great, but better than being empty up in yours,” Dagda riposted.
Tadhg swung at him playfully with the bottle narrowly avoiding his head as he ducked underneath as they laughed.
Dagda smiled, “But you are right, now is not the time to speak on such matters, let us change to another perhaps even more serious subject.’ Dagda leaned in close and brought his voice to a whisper, “That of our beloved Cormac and his elderly lady to be Miah.”
Cormac threw his hands up exasperated, “More serious, really? Not half a day’s stroll away lies a force of 13000 men wanting to put an end to us all and you want to talk about that? There isn’t even anything to speak on.”
Tadhg stood up and put a heavy arm around Cormac, “Woah, woah, woah now.” He began to pat his head patronisingly. “Let’s not be ridiculous here now Cormac there’s plenty to talk about. We’ve never really had it all out have we?”
“What?” Cormac protested immediately, yanking Tadhg’s arm away. “Never really had it out? Ye bring it up every goddamned time we have a drink.”
Tadhg’s face dropped in shock. “Cormac please. Don’t think your brothers are completely ignorant to your worries and problems. Miah is a great Druaida for sure but hear me out….”
“Oh don’t even Tadhg, whatever about loverboy over there,” he nodded his head towards Dagda, “there is no way I’m ever getting a lecture about this from you.”
Tadhg brought his fist up to his mouth, “OOOOHHHHh”
Dagda got up instantly, “EH now c’mon Cormac I reject that. I may have had little experience in true love these some twenty four odd years but loverboy is completely unfair.” Dagda swiped the whiskey bottle and took a gulp, “Me, I’m a…. A free spirit. I love who I love and I cannot rightly apologise for that now can I? Inherent emotion love, one which makes little sense nor logic but is yet the strongest emotion we have. If that love cannot be properly reciprocated or directed on one person then am I not compelled to pursue another? One which I can both mutually and exclusively receive and give my love. I tell you young Cormac that is not an easy thing to find.”
Cormac rolled his eyes. “What the hell are you shitting on about Dagga?”
Dagda brought his fingers up to his lips, “Shhhhh allow me to explain. Though I am young now, both in my heart and mind once I am ready I will gladly commit and give all I am and will be to one which I deem suitable and loveable. Only then however. In the meantime I must be open and accepting of all and every possibility and opportunity.
Cormac smiled. “Of which there seems many. I admit it is very noble of you, Druaida and women alike must praise your oh so free spirit Dagga.”
Tadhg laughed, “If by praise you mean spitting and cursing then yes there is many a fair praiser of his name.” He looked at Dagda sideways, “Besides it’s me and Cormac, we know you, we know all about you and your feelings. That Earless, Saoirse, she’s one you’d commit to. She has you all in a titter whenever we're around her or Arann.” Tadhg smiled, “Though she seems well able to resist you and your charms, free spirit or not.”
Dagda glared at him and quickly looked around, “Okay well let’s not all act like I’m the only one here not in order. I know just as much about you two as you do of me. And though I may not be ready to actually settle down yet it doesn’t mean I won’t want to in the future, I will, just not now. In a few years or so. Anyhow what of you two debauchers? Haven’t ye enough to be keeping ye occupied?”
Tadhg started stretching and flexing his arm, drawing two of his lann ciorcails he took aim at the nearest tree and fired, they both landed thuddingly, burying themselves deep into its trunk.
“Well, this war has got me thinking about all that stuff actually.”
Cormac nodded appreciatively. “Impending doom tends to do that alright.”
Tahdg leaned back mindfully, "Yeah, well if I’m being honest all those late nights getting drunk and sneaking into the city or some lasses window, well it’s true I still enjoy it and all don’t get me wrong but now, times being what they are I’ve been thinking it’s time I started to change. Once this is all done I mean, y’know find someone to settle down happily with.”
Dagda scratched his jaw thoughtfully, summoning wind Omen he quickly plucked Tadhg’s lann ciorcails into his hand. “Someone like Siobhan?”
Seeing Tadhg’s face Dagda raised his arms defensively. “Relax, relax I’m serious she’s a good one Siobhan. She’d be good for you, really. I think after all this you should say it to her. She is definitely mad about you anyways, it’s obvious.”
Tadgh smiled sheepishly, a little surprised at the sincerity. Dagda shrugged, “Though i have to admit it will be difficult seeing you cover and bow to her every demand. But i guess I’ll get over it for your sake.”
Tadhg looked up to the heavens, Cormac nodded vigorously, “As will I Dagda, as will I, it’s true it will be strange to see him like that but if that is how he wants to live then we should support him all the way.”
“I don’t…” Tadhg began but sighed shaking his head wearily, “Ah fuck it. Well that’s my life and future sorted then it seems but what of ye? Cormac you and Miah seem written in the stars right? I believe that is how you put it that night at Teach Tabhairne.”
Cormac snorted, “Seriously out of all the shite we talk that’s what you remember.”
Dagda slapped his hand on Cormac’s. “But of course Cormac you’re our youngest brother, it’s our duty to take special care and attention towards you.”
Cormac looked at him disparagingly, “three goodman months. In any case whatever it is it can wait until after all of this, like you said now is not the time. For better or worse I’ll let those thoughts lie for now.”
Dagda punched him playfully on the arm, “How wise our baby brother is Tadgh, he’s right any more of this and we’ll start to get foolish notions on our heads, let’s get some rest, if the rumours are true we’re to be up again at first light.”
Tadhg drained the last dregs of the bottle and the three of them flashed elbows before saying their goodnight. Dagda made his way through the crowd slowly dissembling themselves to their beds and retired to his bedchambers. Closing the door behind him he disrobed and carefully laid his claíomh, knives and lann ciorcails beside him before laying down on his bed. He closed his eyes and let his breathing calm, outside his window the moon shined bright, full and powerful, perhaps it was a sign, Crazy Druaid said the Gods controlled the Moon, if he was right maybe it was a sign of their support, that the Druaidíi too would emerge full and powerful.
Dagda smiled, if he was right, if All Father was right then the Men would be
the least of their worries. But just this once he would take his word for it.